3.75 avg rating — 118,537 ratings

"Required reading if you enjoy epics. It addresses the eternal questions of the meaning of existence and the need to come to terms with our mortality. It also contains an account of the Great Flood that predates the biblical version. "

4.07 avg rating — 83,530 ratings

"Homer was not only a first-rate poet, he was a top-notch story teller. For beginners, try the Fagles or Lombardo translations."

4.32 avg rating — 12,136 ratings

"This cornerstone of Indian culture began as a 24,000 line story about the struggle for a kingdom in northern India. Over the next 1000 years, it morphed into a sprawling, chaotic jumble over 1,000,000 lines long. Fortunately, most English translations cut out the later additions, leaving us with the core story, which is a real gem. "

4.07 avg rating — 13,205 ratings

"Like the Mahabharata, this is another cornerstone of Indian culture."

3.83 avg rating — 11,350 ratings

"The story of Jason and the Argonauts, and their quest for Golden Fleece. While it is well written, there is more travelogue then story here. However, the section on Jason and Medea stealing the fleece is superb."

3.87 avg rating — 142,921 ratings

"This Roman epic is about Aeneas, who flees Troy with his people to settle in Italy and father the founders of Rome. It includes the famous story of the Trojan Horse. This book is challenging, but worth the effort. "

4.10 avg rating — 78,047 ratings

"Ovid retells the myths that have transformation as a key story element. The myths are Roman, but most of them have Greek origins. This is a key literary source for Dante, Shakespeare, and countless others. The Mandelbaum translation is superb, and a complete joy to read. Highly recommended."

3.95 avg rating — 282 ratings

"Statius was a major influence on Dante and other Italian epic poets."

3.98 avg rating — 661 ratings

"Quintus tells many of the Trojan War stories that Homer left out. These are events that precede and follow the events recorded in the Iliad. "

3.95 avg rating — 5,017 ratings

"This is a prose epic from Ireland, written sometime in the 8th century. It is about a cattle raid that is held off by the hero, Cuchulainn, also known as the Hound of Ulster. While it has its flaws, it also has some really splendid moments and is worthy of any epic lover's attention."

3.50 avg rating — 345,161 ratings

"Seamus Heaney provides us with a masterful verse translation of a rip-roaring tale. Lord of the Rings fans, take note: Tolkien was the first to really point out Beowulf's literary merit. Beowulf also inspired Tolkien's "ring" concept and the Hobbit's dragon-slaying scene. It's a quick, fun read. Highly recommended."

4.52 avg rating — 5,663 ratings

"A hugely influential eleventh century Persian epic."

really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 6,975 ratings

"In your epic quest, be sure to include a few Norse sagas. They are written in prose and tend to be fast-paced, bloody, and to the point. Just the way you like it, right? The Saga of the Volsungs is one of the most famous. You can tell it influenced Tolkien, and it was also Wagner's primary source for his Ring opera cycle."

3.50 avg rating — 19,148 ratings

"This French epic from the Middle Ages is crammed with vivid descriptions of battles, blood, gore, and head-cleavings. If you like lots of action and aren't too worried about plot, historical accuracy, or character development, this is the epic for you. I recommend the Glyn Burgess translation."

3.45 avg rating — 15,740 ratings

"Another Medieval epic told in direct, simple language."

3.93 avg rating — 5,484 ratings

"Don't miss this prose epic, often called "the Icelandic Iliad." It is the story of a fifty-year series of blood feuds and the struggle to contain them within a precarious legal system. This saga is a fast-moving look into the Scandinavian world of 1000 years ago."

3.82 avg rating — 8,903 ratings

"A wonderful verse translation of this German epic. It contains some of Wagner's source material for his Ring opera cycle. As far as literary quality goes, it's second rate. However, it is fast paced and a major national epic."

3.76 avg rating — 77,649 ratings

"Don't miss this little gem. It is one of the best of the medieval epics. Well worth the effort. And Brian Stone's essays provide excellent background info for appreciating the work more fully. Try the Stone or Armitage translations."

4.37 avg rating — 6,639 ratings

"This is China's equivalent to the Iliad/Odyssey or Mahabharata/Ramayana sagas."

4.08 avg rating — 171,540 ratings

"This masterpiece of structure, allegory, and symbolism is the most challenging book I've ever read. At least try to read Inferno. Patient readers who continue reading will find plenty of additional treasures. For beginners, try the Ciardi translation. His poetry is excellent, and his notes are indispensable."

3.53 avg rating — 237,412 ratings

"While technically not an epic, this is an "epic sized" collection of narrative poems. Important tip: Read it aloud. That's when you really hear the music. A few of the stories are duds, but the good ones are superb."

3.75 avg rating — 7,200 ratings

"This book-length narrative poem is based on a Trojan War tale from Ovid. "

4.04 avg rating — 4,112 ratings

"This epic is a parody of medieval romances, and was itself lampooned by Cervantes in Don Quixote. "

3.97 avg rating — 1,828 ratings

"Italian epic about the First Crusade in the eleventh century"

3.86 avg rating — 181,833 ratings

"One of the greatest and most ambitious epics of all time. "

4.05 avg rating — 6,078 ratings

"This unusual national epic of Finland is based on a collection of songs. The songs are very old, and were first compiled as a book in the 1670s. They later gained wider popularity from a collection published in the mid-1800s. A cornerstone of Finnish culture."

3.86 avg rating — 1,552 ratings

"This mini-epic is about Scottish clan wars during the reign of James V. It can be a bit slow and confusing at times, but the poetry is first-rate and it has several really great scenes. Be sure to get an edition that discusses the historical context and has decent footnotes."

3.97 avg rating — 10,414 ratings

"This epic retells many of the key stories from the Arthurian legends."

4.17 avg rating — 315 ratings

"A Pulitzer Prize-winning poem about the American Civil War."

4.30 avg rating — 493 ratings

"A Nobel Laureate's stunning sequel to Homer's Odyssey."

3.84 avg rating — 3,168 ratings

"This dark science fiction epic poem is very popular in Sweden, where its author won the Nobel Prize. "

3.84 avg rating — 70 ratings

"A sparse, fast-paced epic about the Donner Party's journey west and the hardships they encountered. "

3.68 avg rating — 110 ratings

"his mini-epic, by one of America's most honored poets, tells a tragic tale of the American West. Recommended."

4.14 avg rating — 42 ratings

"This recent epic was translated from the original Zulu into English by its author. The poetry, story, and characters are excellent. If you can find it, read it. It is definitely worth your time."

4.17 avg rating — 29 ratings

"The saga of an epic hero in a fractured United States, some 400 years in the future. It explores themes of relativism, fanaticism, honor, and personal sacrifice, with elegance and restraint. This book is downright inspiring. It is also proof that the epic is not dead and deserves a place in contemporary literature. Don't miss this one!"

4.30 avg rating — 33 ratings

"Another contemporary epic by Frederick Turner. Genesis was the first major work of fiction to not only suggest the idea of terraforming Mars, but to also provided a feasible solution for doing so. This erudite book has it all: action, battles, philosophy, the works."

3.83 avg rating — 1,185,419 ratings

"his is a dramatic retelling of the Odyssey, in blank verse. It is a series of dialogs that boils the Odyssey down to its essence. It's kind of "Homer for beginners," but fast-paced, very well written, and certainly worth your time. "